Game 2014.58: Tigers 8, Red Sox 6

Some of our commentators suggested that it was time for some veteran leadership. As if on cue, Torii Hunter emerged before the game decked out in the dreaded Zubaz, and proclaimed that despite all the Twitter flak, there was no Zubaz Curse. “I was in my Zubaz before the game, just to let them know that it had nothing to do with anything.”

And thus was the curse broken. Joba was relieved, since he started the whole Zubaz thing and was taking the brunt of the criticism. “Torii wore a full Zubaz uni [pregame]. So for everybody on Twitter, it’s not the Zubaz. Don’t knock the Zubaz.” (Quotes courtesy of Jason Beck tweets).

I suspect Torii was just having a teammate’s back here (isn’t that part of what leadership is about?), but the Tigers finally had a good start, good hitting, and good bullpen work, and Hunter himself went 3-4 with a home run.

The Tigers look to make it two in a row tonight, and clinch their first series win since they were in Boston. Eugenio Suarez will be making his first start at shortstop; Alex Avila will be given a cautionary rest (he passed the concussion test), and Bryan “Wheels” Holaday will get the start. Player to watch: Nick Castellanos, who has had two consecutive three-hit games.

This win is a must-win for my sanity. Probably much less important in the Tigers’ clubhouse.

Only Tiger Fan in Mississippi

June 7, 2014 at 9:38 pm

SS Su is AOK!

jud

June 7, 2014 at 9:41 pm

You know the most impressive thing Su has done all day , considering he has done alot .he actually took a 3-2 pitch that bounced up there for a walk Davis..Hunter..Jackson. Avila all would gave swung and missed

Coleman

June 7, 2014 at 9:47 pm

Uh oh

Vince in MN

June 7, 2014 at 9:47 pm

Ausmus isn’t any better at managing his “aces” than Leyland was. Scherzer should have been gone after the 6th.

Kevin in Dallas

June 7, 2014 at 9:48 pm

Scherzer has not been good today. A quality start from another pitcher other than Smyly every now and again would be nice.

didn’t see the game, but saw that foul-ball-fail by Hunter last night w/2 outs in the 9th… pretty sad, especially considering the context of the game (and who was on the mound)

two older DET players who (this year) are certainly not re-living past strengths: Hunter on defense, and Nathan on the mound… and i guess if he were ‘older’, one could lump JV into that category

jud

June 7, 2014 at 10:49 pm

Get him the hell out of there!!!!!!!!!!!

Kevin in Dallas

June 7, 2014 at 10:49 pm

BTW – coming into this game, Verlander had a higher WHIP than Nathan. Let that sink in.

jud

June 7, 2014 at 10:52 pm

Piece of cake!!!

Coleman

June 7, 2014 at 10:52 pm

Closer Clown survives.

Kevin in Dallas

June 7, 2014 at 10:54 pm

Perhaps Ausmus is smarter than all of us.

Sunday night’s post-game “well, usually we’d go to Nathan there in the save situation, but since he pitched Fri and Sat, and no off-day on Monday, I felt it best to let Joba come in and nail down the 4-3 win. But Nathan is still our guy (wink).”

Aces must throw 115-125 pitches per game no matter what, the 8th-inning guy pitches the 8th inning, the closer pitches the 9th inning, etc. They have defined roles, and dammit that is what they are gonna do.

Vince in MN

June 7, 2014 at 11:03 pm

Nathan is now officially worse than Coke. So now we have two guys taking up space in the bullpen that you can’t afford to hand the ball to.

jud

June 7, 2014 at 11:07 pm

Not trying to defend Nathan but once again if we play solid D he was out of the inning again…

For some perspective on a Mgr’s handling of his pitching staff – last night i watched the tail end of the CWS – LAA game. CWS’ LHP Sale breezed through LAA lineup thru 7 inning (allowing only 3 singles).

Sale starts the 8th with a 100 pitch count and CWS leading 5-0 – gives up two hits and a run, then an error (that could have been a DP), then another hit, bases loaded. Trout coming up – Ventura leaves him in… Trout hits a 3-2 changup over CF fence – grand slam, tie game. Ventura brings in Petrinka, w/1.49 ERA, gets two outs then gives up 3 hits, LAA take the lead 6-5. And that’s how it ended.

The moral: this type of sh*t happens often with other teams and other Mgrs, its just more magnified when it happens to the team you’re following.

potential added bonus: Sale’s confidence may be a little shaken, as he pitches game 4 of DET’s series in CHI beginning tomorrow.

Vince in MN

June 8, 2014 at 12:10 pm

What I take from that example is that Ventura is no better at handling a pitching staff than Ausmus. Because he stuck with his “ace” too long, doesn’t make it OK for Smokey Jr. to do so. It’s managing by the rote role-play method rather using the facts on the field. You are undoubtedly correct that this happens regularly with other teams as well. However, as I see it, the moral is (or should be): pay attention to what is going on, don’t play favorites; if the guy is gassed, get him out of there no matter what his name/fame happens to be. Sure, the bullpen may collapse, but in general I believe that you are better off with a fresh pitcher rather than sticking with a tired one who is going through the opposing batting order for the fourth time. And especially if he is playing Judy to the other team’s Punch, pulling the plug should be a no-brainer. I’m perfectly happy to see other managers misuse their pitching staffs, but I don’t want mine doing so. After eight years of Leyland, this is a particular sore point with me.

Latest Comments

Coleman http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12413132&categoryid=2521705
On the other hand, Verlander is "confident" and "ready to go," so there's that.

Smoking Loon Good article, Kevin.
Did anyone else have the thought last year that perhaps the biggest problem with Verlander was... predictability? He

Kevin in Dallas Neither does this story.
http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2015/02/detroit_tigers_bring_back_righ_1.html

Kevin in Dallas This picture does not instill a whole bunch of confidence.
http://www.mlive.com/tigers/#/0

Coleman Check out this one: http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2015/02/report_relief_pitcher_joba_cha.html#incart_more_sports
He shaved the beard! And looks like he dropped a few pounds too.

StorminNorman$ http://m.tigers.mlb.com/news/article/110232762/joba-chamberlain-signs-with-detroit-tigers
low price, potential high yield... or maybe not. Whatever the case, Joba certainly said all the right things.

Jim EggersUSMC I concur K in D, am hoping for a good but not great season from JV. Seemed to me he

StorminNorman$ Great info/research Kevin! One point to clarify and factor into the analysis: JV did make $20M last year, but

Coleman Verlander had core muscle surgery last January. Could it be, at his age, and with the type of pitcher he

Jim EggersUSMC I am sorry to hear that, was looking forward to your blunt and accurate reports... as far as next year